Dynamic shading systems

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a dynamic shading system of a vehicle includes one or more occupant sensors, a window configured for dynamic shading, and a control unit communicatively coupled to the one or more occupant sensors and the window. The one or more occupant sensors are configured to output a signal indicative of a position of each of one or more occupants within the vehicle. The control unit executes logic to shade areas of the window based on the position of each of the one or more occupants in order to shade each of the one or more occupants in accordance with a shade preference of each of the one or more occupants.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present specification generally relates to shading systems and, morespecifically, dynamic shading systems for vehicles for dynamicallyshading vehicle occupants.

BACKGROUND

Modern windows may be configured to tint on demand by varying thepolarity of molecules embedded in the window. These modern windows maybe able to be programmed to activate at a certain time of day. Forexample, the windows may be darkened during daytime hours and lightenedduring the night. For example, during the daytime, the window may becomegradually more opaque as the sun gets brighter. However, such windowsare limited in that they may not be able to dynamically change based ona user's position or preference of shading.

Accordingly, a need exists for alternative shading systems fordynamically shading vehicle occupants.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a dynamic shading system of a vehicle includes one ormore occupant sensors, a window configured for dynamic shading, and acontrol unit communicatively coupled to the one or more occupant sensorsand the window. The one or more occupant sensors are configured tooutput a signal indicative of a position of each of one or moreoccupants within the vehicle. The control unit executes logic to shadeareas of the window based on the position of each of the one or moreoccupants in order to shade each of the one or more occupants inaccordance with a shade preference of each of the one or more occupants.

In another embodiment, a dynamic shading system includes a windowconfigured for dynamic shading, a user input device, and a control unitcommunicatively coupled to the window and the user input device. Thecontrol unit executes logic to adjust the dynamic shading of the windowto display a message received from the user input device.

In yet another embodiment, a dynamic shading system of a vehicleincludes one or more occupant sensors, a window configured for dynamicshading, a user input device, and a control unit communicatively coupledto the one or more occupant sensors, the window, and the user inputdevice. The one or more occupant sensors are configured to output asignal indicative of a position of each of one or more occupants withinthe vehicle. The control unit executes logic to shade areas of thewindow based on at least one of the position of each of the one or moreoccupants in order to shade each of the one or more occupants inaccordance with a shade preference of each of the one or more occupantsand a message received from the user input device.

These and additional features provided by the embodiments describedherein will be more fully understood in view of the following detaileddescription, in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplaryin nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by theclaims. The following detailed description of the illustrativeembodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a dynamic shading system of a vehicle,according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein:

FIG. 2A illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein:

FIG. 2B illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 2C illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein:

FIG. 2D illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 3A illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 3B illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein;

FIG. 3C illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein; and

FIG. 3D illustrates a shading preference output produced by the dynamicshading system of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments shown anddescribed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the figures, the present disclosure is directedto a dynamic shading system for a vehicle. In particular, dynamicshading systems according to the present disclosure include a windowthat is configured for dynamic shading and a control unit that executeslogic to control the shading of the window. For example, in someembodiments, the dynamic shading system includes one or more occupantsensors that are configured to output a signal indicative of a positionof each of one or more occupants within the vehicle. The dynamic shadingsystem may adjust the shading based on a position of each occupant ofthe vehicle in order to shade each occupant in accordance with a shadepreference of each occupant. That is, the shading of each occupant isadjusted to that occupant's preferences. Accordingly, if one occupantwould like to be shaded and another does not, the dynamic shading systemcan adjust the shading of the window such that only the occupantdesiring shade is shaded. In further embodiments, the dynamic shadingsystem may include a user input device that allows a user to input aword and/or symbol and the control unit may adjust the dynamic shadingof the window to display the user's word and/or symbol. These and otherfeatures will be described in more detail herein.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a vehicle 100 is schematically illustrated. Thevehicle 100 includes a dynamic shading system 101. It is noted thatwhile the vehicle 100 is generally depicted as an automobile, thevehicle 100 may be any passenger vehicle such as, for example, aterrestrial, aquatic, and/or airborne vehicle. In some embodiments, thevehicle 100 may be an electric or hybrid vehicle. As will be describedin greater detail herein, the dynamic shading system 101 causes thedynamic shading of a window 130 of the vehicle 100 to adjust in at leastone of position, size, orientation color, opacity, word, symbol, and thelike.

The dynamic shading system 101 generally includes a control unit 102, acommunication path 104, and a window 130 configured for dynamic shading.The dynamic shading system 101 may further include one or more occupantsensors 110, one or more light sensors 120, a user input device 140, abattery sensor 150, and an emergency system 160. It is noted thatdynamic shading systems 101 according to the present disclosure mayinclude fewer or greater number of modules communicatively coupled toone another over the communication path 104 without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

As described above, the dynamic shading system 101 includes acommunication path 104 that provides data interconnectivity betweenvarious modules disposed within the dynamic shading system 101.Specifically, each of the modules can operate as a node that may sendand/or receive data. In some embodiments, the communication path 104includes a conductive material that permits the transmission ofelectrical data signals to processors, memories, sensors, and actuatorsthroughout the dynamic shading system 101. In another embodiment, thecommunication path 104 can be a bus, such as for example a LIN bus, aCAN bus, a VAN bus, and the like. In further embodiments, thecommunication path 104 may be wireless and/or an optical waveguide.Components that are communicatively coupled may include componentscapable of exchanging data signals with one another such as, forexample, electrical signals via conductive medium, electromagneticsignals via air, optical signals via optical waveguides, and the like.

The control unit 102 includes one or more processors 105 communicativelycoupled with one or more memory modules 106. The one or more processors105 may include any device capable of executing machine-readableinstructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium.Accordingly, each processor may include a controller, an integratedcircuit, a microchip, a computer, and/or any other computing device.

The one or more memory modules 106 are communicatively coupled to theone or more processors 105 over the communication path 104. The one ormore memory modules 106 may be configured as volatile and/or nonvolatilememory and, as such, may include random access memory (including SRAM,DRAM, and/or other types of RAM), flash memory, secure digital (SD)memory, registers, compact discs (CD), digital versatile discs (DVD),and/or other types of non-transitory computer-readable mediums.Depending on the particular embodiment, these non-transitorycomputer-readable mediums may reside within the dynamic shading system101 and/or external to the dynamic shading system 101. The one or morememory modules 106 may be configured to store one or more pieces oflogic, as described in more detail below. The embodiments describedherein may utilize a distributed computing arrangement to perform anyportion of the logic described herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include logic that includesmachine-readable instructions and/or an algorithm written in anyprogramming language of any generation (e.g., 1GL, 2GL, 3GL, 4GL, and/or5GL) such as, machine language that may be directly executed by theprocessor, assembly language, object-oriented programming (OOP),scripting languages, microcode, etc., that may be compiled or assembledinto machine readable instructions and stored on a machine readablemedium. Similarly, the logic and/or algorithm may be written in ahardware description language (HDL), such as logic implemented viaeither a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration or anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and their equivalents.Accordingly, the logic may be implemented in any conventional computerprogramming language, as pre-programmed hardware elements, and/or as acombination of hardware and software components. The logic stored on theone or more memory modules 106, when executed by the one or moreprocessors 105 causes the dynamic shading of the window 130 to changeaccording to at least one of a location of a vehicle occupant, a storedpreference of the occupant, and by input from an occupant received on auser input device 140.

The dynamic shading system 101 generally includes a window 130configured for dynamic shading communicatively coupled to the controlunit 102 over the communication path 104. It is noted that though thepresent disclosure often refers to windows in the context of a vehicle100, it is contemplated that the dynamic shading system 101 as describedherein may be applicable to other implementation contexts including, butnot limited to, house windows, business windows, and the like. In thecontext of the vehicle 100, the window 130 may include any window 130 ofthe vehicle 100. For example, the window 130 may include a frontwindshield, a passenger side window, a driver side window, a rearwindshield of the vehicle 100, or any combination thereof. For example,in some embodiments, each of the windows of the vehicle 100 may beconfigured with dynamic shading.

The window 130 being configured for dynamic shading refers to portionsof the window 130 becoming selectively darkened (e.g., having increasedopacity) in response to some input. Accordingly, the window 130 may beformed from any medium capable of transitioning between various statesof light transmissivity in response to a control signal from the controlunit 102. For example, one light transmissivity state may be atransparent state. Further, a second light transmissivity state may bean opaque state where light incident on the window 130 in thetransparent state is greater than the light that is transmitted throughthe window 130 in the opaque state. For example, the lighttransmissivity of the window 130 may be varied from 0% (i.e., completelyopaque) to 100% (i.e., completely transparent) or any percentage therebetween.

As non-limiting examples, the window 130 may be made from a smart glasswhose light transmission properties are altered when voltage, light, orheat is applied. Smart glass technologies include, but are not limitedto, electrochromic, photochromic, thermochromic, suspended-particle,micro-blind, liquid crystal, and polymer-dispersed liquid-crystaldevices. In some embodiments, the window 130 may include pixels whichare responsive to electrical excitation. For example, the control unit102 may control the pixels within the window 130 to adjust the opacityof the window 130. In some embodiments, the control unit 102 may executelogic to aggregate black pixels to selectively shade regions of thewindow 130. In some embodiments, the window 130 may include moleculeswhich are responsive to electrical excitation. That is the electriccurrent may adjust the polarity and/or position of the selectedmolecules to cause the molecules to reflect light in a way the effectsthe opacity of the window 130. For example, addition or removal of anelectric current can excite the molecules and cause the window 130 tobecome more or less opaque. In some embodiments, heat, such that appliedby the hand of a user, may cause the window's 130 opacity properties tobe altered. It is contemplated that the dynamic shading may beconfigured to change color. For example, in some embodiments, the levelof excitation may also be configured to adjust the color of the dynamicshading.

As will be described in greater detail herein, the control unit 102 mayexecute logic stored on the one or more memory modules 106 to control anexcitation path to selectively adjust the dynamic shading of the window130. For example, the dynamic shading of the window 130 may allow forselected portions of the window 130 to become shaded based on theposition of the one or more occupants in the vehicle 100 in order toshade each of the one or more occupants in accordance with a shadepreference of each of the one or more occupants. For example, and asshown in FIGS. 2A-2D the control unit 102 can control the dynamicshading of the window 130 to only shade particular occupants, orportions thereof, by adjusting the level of visible light transmission(opacity) of the window 130. In some embodiments, the control unit 102may execute logic to adjust the dynamic shading of the window to displaya message. Examples are illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D the control unit 102can adjust the excitation path to display a message including, forexample, symbols, words, images, or the like in the window 130 with thedynamic shading.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the dynamic shading system 101 may furtherinclude the one or more occupant sensors 110. The one or more occupantsensors 110 may include any sensor(s) capable of outputting a positionsignal indicative of a position of each of the one or more occupantswithin the vehicle 100 and/or a recognition signal indicative of anidentity of each of the one or more occupants of the vehicle 100. Insome embodiments, the one or more occupant sensors 110 may includededicated sensors capable of outputting a position signal indicative ofa position of each of the one or more occupants within the vehicle 100and dedicated sensors capable of outputting a recognition signalindicative of an identity of each of the one or more occupants of thevehicle 100. In some embodiments, a single sensor may be capable ofoutputting both a position signal indicative of a position of anoccupant within the vehicle 100 and a recognition signal indicative ofan identity of the occupant of the vehicle 100. It is noted that use ofthe term “each of the one or more occupants” may in some embodimentsonly refer to occupants positioned within a driver seat and a frontpassenger seat. In other embodiments “each of the one or more occupants”may include each occupant regardless of seated position within thevehicle 100.

Sensors capable of outputting a position signal indicative of a positionof each of the one or more occupants may include, but are not limitedto, cameras, seat sensors, seat belt sensors, proximity sensors, and orany combination thereof. Based on the position signal output by the oneor more occupant sensors 110, the dynamic shading system 101, throughlogic executed by the control unit 102, may determine a position of eachof the one or more occupants within the vehicle 100. In someembodiments, based on the position signal output by the one or moreoccupant sensors 110, a location of particular features of an occupantcan be determined (e.g., hands, hair, face, arms, etc.). The controlunit 102 may execute logic to shade areas of the window 130 based on theposition of each of the one or more occupants in order to shade each ofthe one or more occupants in accordance with a shade preferenceassociated with each of the one or more occupants. Such shade preferencemay be based on a user input or may be a stored preference saved to theone or more memory modules 106 by the particular occupant. In someembodiments, the control unit 102 may execute logic to monitor theposition of each of the one or more occupants with the one or moreoccupant sensors 110 and adjust a position of the dynamic shading of thewindow 130 based on a movement of the one or more occupants.

In some embodiments, the occupant position signal output by the one ormore occupant sensors 110 may cause the one or more processors 105 toexecute logic to cause the one or more occupant sensors 110 to outputthe occupant recognition signal to allow the one or more processors 105to identify various occupants within the vehicle 100. As such, detectinga vehicle occupant within the vehicle 100 may start a process ofidentifying the one or more occupants and identifying shade preferencesassociated with the one or more occupants. Upon recognizing the one ormore vehicle 100 occupants, the dynamic shading system 101 may adjustthe dynamic shading of the window 130 in accordance with the shadepreference stored for the particular occupant. A shade preference mayinclude, but is not limited to, at least one of a body region shadepreference (e.g., hands, arms, face, hair, etc.), a shade opacitypreference, a shade color preference, and the like.

In some embodiments, to aid in recognizing a particular vehicle occupant112A, the one or more occupant sensors 110 may include fingerprintsensors, facial recognition sensors (e.g., cameras), or the like. Forexample, a fingerprint sensor may scan a fingerprint of a vehicleoccupant 112A and, based on fingerprint data stored in the one or morememory modules 106 of the system 101, the control unit 102 may executelogic to match the scanned fingerprint with a matching fingerprint of aknown user of the vehicle 100. Facial recognition sensors may be anydevice having an array of sensing devices (e.g., pixels) capable ofdetecting radiation in an ultraviolet wavelength band, a visible lightwavelength band, and/or an infrared wavelength band. The occupantrecognition signal output by the facial recognition sensors may includeimage data indicative of the facial features of a vehicle occupant. Thecontrol unit 102 may execute logic to process the image data to matchthe facial features from the image data with a particular vehicleoccupant of the vehicle 100 to identify that particular occupant. Theone or more occupant sensors 110 may be located anywhere within thevehicle 100 to gather information relating to positioning and/orrecognition of the one or more occupants of the vehicle 100. Forexample, occupant sensors 110 may be located in the dashboard, in thesteering wheel, in the seats, in the ceiling, etc.

As noted herein above, the dynamic shading system 101 may furtherinclude the one or more light sensors 120. The one or more light sensors120 may include any sensor(s) capable of outputting a light signalindicative of the position of a point of light. For example, the one ormore light sensors 120 may include photoresistors, photodiodes,phototransistors, cameras, and the like. The dynamic shading system 101may track a point of light relative to the occupant of the vehicle todynamically shade the occupant from the point of light. For example,when a vehicle is sitting in traffic and there is a focus of sunlightoff of a mirror into the user's eye(s), the control unit 102 may executelogic to determine, based on the light signal from the one or more lightsensors 120, that a point of light is incident on an occupant anddynamically shade the occupant from that point of light. In someembodiments, the control unit 102 may monitor a position of the point oflight and adjust a position of the dynamic shading of the window 130based on a movement of the point of light.

In some embodiments, the one or more light sensors 120 may be configuredto output a sun signal indicative of the position of the sun. In suchembodiments, the one or more light sensors 120 may include vehiclelocation sensors (e.g., GPS signals providing geo-coordinate location ofthe vehicle 100), which may be used, in conjunction with the time of theday, to determine the position of the sun, Based on the position of thesun, the control unit 102 may execute logic to determine the location ofthe sun relative to each of the one or more occupants within the vehicle100 and, accordingly, determine if there is or is likely to be sunlightincident on a particular vehicle occupant.

In some embodiments, using the one or more light sensors 120, thecontrol unit 102 may execute logic to monitor the position of the sunwith the one or more light sensors 120 and adjust a position of thedynamic shading of the window 130 based on a movement of the sun. Insome embodiments, the control unit 102 may also, as described above,monitor the position of each of the one or more occupants with the oneor more occupant sensors 110. The control unit 102 may at the same timemonitor the position of the sun or a point of light relative to theposition of each of the one or more occupants with the one or more lightsensors 120 and adjust a position of the dynamic shading of the window130 based on a movement of at least one of the one or more occupants anda movement of the sun or the point of light relative the position ofeach of the one or more occupants.

In some embodiments, the one or more light sensors 120, may output asignal indicative of the brightness of the environment of the vehicle100. For example, if the brightness of an environment of the vehicle 100is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 102 may reframefrom activating the dynamic shading of the window 130 to shade one ormore of the vehicle 100 occupants. For example, when a vehicle 100 isparked in a covered garage, is being used at night, or is in some othershaded environment, dynamic shading may not be needed or desired.

In some embodiments, the one or more light sensors 120 may includesensors directed toward the one or more occupants that output a signalindicative of light being incident on the user. For example, the one ormore light sensors 120 may include cameras and the control unit 102 mayexecute logic to process the images captured by the camera to determinea level of lighting that the occupant is subjected to. The control unit102 may utilize a rating scale to rate the level of exposure of theoccupant (or portions of the occupant) to determine if the occupants (orportions thereof) are shaded already or may be in need of shading. Ifthe occupant, or portions thereof, is determined to have a level oflight exposure above a predetermined threshold, the control unit 102 mayactivate the dynamic shading system 101 to dynamically shade theoccupant according to the shade preference of the occupant.

To control/input a shade preference of an occupant of the vehicle 100,the vehicle 100 may include the user input device 140. The user inputdevice 140 may be communicatively coupled over the communication path104 to the other modules of the dynamic shading system 101. The userinput device 140 may be any device capable of transforming mechanical,optical, or electrical signals into a data signal capable of beingtransmitted with the communication path 104. Specifically, the userinput device 140 may include any number of movable objects thattransform physical motion into a data signal that can be transmittedover the communication path 104 such as, for example, a button, aswitch, a knob, a microphone, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or the like. Insome embodiments, the user input device 140 may be a personal smartdevice such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or the like communicativelycoupled to other modules of the dynamic shading system 101 throughnear-field wireless communication or the like.

In some embodiments, the user input device 140 may include the window130, itself. For example, a user may touch the windshield at a location,as determined by the control unit 102 based on a signal from the one ormore occupant sensors 110, and that portion of the windshield may becomeshaded. So as to filter inadvertent contacts of the user with thewindshield, a time that the user is in contact with the windshield maybe monitored by the control unit 102 using the one or more occupantsensors 110, such that contact with the windshield by the user above apredetermined time is indicative of a user input into the dynamicshading system 101. For example, contact of greater than two seconds,may be indicative of a user input and an intention of the user to adjustthe dynamic shading to a preference of the user.

Using the user input device 140, an occupant may enter into the controlunit 102 various shade preferences such as, for example, shade colorpreferences, shade position preferences, body part shading preferences,opacity shading preferences, or the like. Examples are illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2D. As will be described in greater detail herein, in someembodiments, the user input device 140 may allow a user to input amessage including, for example, symbols, words, images, or the like intothe user input device 140, wherein the control unit 102 may executelogic to display the input of the user with the dynamic shading of thewindow 130, examples are illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2D various non-limiting exampleimplementations of the dynamic shading of the window 130 areillustrated. Each of FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate the vehicle 100 having afirst occupant 112A and a second occupant 112B positioned within apassenger compartment 134 of the vehicle 100. In FIG. 2A the firstvehicle occupant 112A is provided with dynamic shading 132A while thesecond occupant 112B is not. As described above, this may be due toseveral reasons. For example, the first vehicle occupant's 112A shadepreference may indicate that the first vehicle occupant 112A desiredshading while the shade preferences of the second vehicle occupant 112Bindicate that the second vehicle occupant 112B did not desire shading.Alternatively, the control unit 102 may have determined, based on thelight signal from the one or more light sensors 120, that there issun-light or a point of light incident on the first vehicle occupant112A and not on the second vehicle occupant 112B, such that the controlunit 102 adjusts the dynamic shading 132A to only shade the firstvehicle occupant 112A. Referring to FIG. 2B, the positioning of thedynamic shading 132B over the first vehicle occupant 112A is the same,but in this instance, the user preference settings of the first vehicleoccupant 112A causes the control unit 102 to adjust the opacity of thedynamic shading 132B. As illustrated, the dynamic shading 132Aillustrated in FIG. 2A is more opaque than the dynamic shading 132Billustrated in FIG. 2B.

FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate similar opacity differences in dynamicshading 132C and 132D than that shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. However, inthis case, both the first vehicle occupant 112A and the second vehicleoccupant 112B have the same shade preference, such that the dynamicshading 132C/132D shades both users simultaneously. Various combinationsof shade preferences however are achievable by the dynamic shadingsystem 101. For example, each vehicle occupant 112A and 112B may adjust,for example, not only the opacity, but the color, body portions shaded(e.g. hair, arms, face, etc.), and the like. As noted above, in someembodiments, the dynamic shading (e.g., 132A, 132B, 132C, and/or 132D)may be adjusted based on a position of the user and/or a position of thesun or other source of light relative to the user.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the user input device 140 may allowa user to input a message including one of a symbol, text, image or thelike into the user input device 140, wherein the control unit 102 mayexecute logic to display the input of the user with the dynamic shadingof the window 130. A characteristic such as, for example, the size,orientation, shade opacity, and shade color of the message may beadjustable based on an input within the user input device 140. Referringnow to FIGS. 3A-3D in conjunction with FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 isillustrated as including the first vehicle occupant 112A and the secondvehicle occupant 112B within the passenger compartment 134 of thevehicle 100. In FIG. 3A, one of the occupants may have used a user inputdevice 140 to enter in text “Back Off.” The control unit 102, based onthis user input, adjusts the dynamic shading 136A to show the text “BackOff.” Similarly, in FIG. 3B the control unit 102, based on a user input,has adjusted the dynamic shading 136B to read “Baby on Board.” Such textmay be selected by the user from an available menu or may be entered bya user using a keyboard, microphone, touchscreen, or the like. It isnoted that the text shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are not limiting and onlyillustrate possible example texts that may be input by a user. FIGS. 3Cand 3D illustrate the dynamic shading 138A, 138B configured to show asymbol (e.g., emergency symbol and low battery symbol, respectively).

In some embodiments, the dynamic shading may be adjusted to showadvertisements. The advertisements may be paired to the dynamic shadingsystem 101 through communication (e.g., wireless communication) from aremote device or server. For example, advertisements may be stored ordownloaded from a remote server or a user's device (e.g., smart phone,tablet, etc.), using for example network interface hardware. Inembodiments, the dynamic shading may show images such as, but notlimited to, symbols, emojis, hand drawings (entered on a touch screendevice, such as mobile phone, for example), and the like. In someembodiments, the user may input a drawing into the dynamic shadingsystem 101 with, for example, a tablet or smartphone. A characteristicof the message is adjustable based on a user input on the user inputdevice 140. The display of the message may allow occupants of thevehicle 100 to communicate with others outside of the vehicle 100.

In some embodiments, the user input device 140 may allow a user tocontrol the dynamic shading of the vehicle 100 based on a preference toobstruct a view of those outside of the vehicle 100 into particularpoints of the vehicle 100. For example, a parent or caregiver maycontrol the dynamic shading of the vehicle 100 to obstruct a view of achild such as through the passenger windows.

The dynamic shading system 101 may, in some embodiments, include anemergency system 160 communicatively coupled to the control unit 102over the communication path 104. The emergency system 160 may includevarious modules that output signals indicative of possible emergencysituations. Emergency situations may include, but are not limited to,mechanical failure, impending mechanical failure (e.g., engineoverheating, low oil, etc.), an impact to the vehicle 100, or a userinput on the user input device 140 indicating an emergency situation. Insuch embodiments, the emergency system 160 may be configured to outputan emergency output signal indicative of the emergency situation.Referring also to FIG. 3C, the control unit 102 may then execute logicto determine that an emergency situation is occurring based on theemergency output signal of the emergency system 160 and automaticallyadjust the dynamic shading 138A of the window 130 to display anemergency signal with the dynamic shading 138A of the window 130. FIG.3C illustrates a possible implementation for displaying the emergencysignal with the dynamic shading. In other embodiments, other symbolsindicative of an emergency are contemplated, for example the word“HELP!” might be displayed.

As noted above, the dynamic shading system 101 may further includebattery sensor 150. The battery sensor 150 may be communicativelycoupled to control unit 102 of the dynamic shading system 101 over thecommunication path 104. The battery sensor 150 may be operativelycoupled to the battery (not shown) of the vehicle 100 and configured tooutput a charge level signal indicative of a charge level of the batteryof the vehicle 100. For example, hybrid and/or electric vehicle 100 mayrely on a battery to provide power for moving the vehicle 100. In someembodiments, the control unit 102 may execute logic to determine thecharge level of the battery based on the charge level signal output bythe battery sensor 150 and automatically adjust the dynamic shading ofthe window 130 to display a low battery signal, illustrated in FIG. 3D,with the dynamic shading of the window 130 when the control unit 102determines that the charge level signal is less than a predeterminedcharge level. For example, less than 50% charge level, less than 40%charge level, less than 30% charge level, less than 20% charge level,less than 10% charge level, or the like may cause the control unit 102to execute logic to automatically display a low battery signal with thedynamic shading of the window 130. The automatic display of emergency orlow battery symbols may allow others (e.g., emergency responders/goodSamaritans) to quickly assess the situation to help the occupants of thevehicle 100.

It should now be understood the embodiments described herein aredirected to dynamic shading systems for vehicles. In particular, dynamicshading systems according to the present disclosure include a windowthat is configured for dynamic shading and a control unit that executeslogic to control the shading of the window based on a shading preferenceof the various occupants within the vehicle. Accordingly, vehicleoccupants may control the dynamic shading according to their ownpreferences. This may allow an occupant to better control their internaltemperatures of the vehicle by blocking incoming light. In furtherembodiments, the dynamic shading system may include a user input devicethat allows a user to input a message (e.g., word and/or symbol) and thecontrol unit may adjust the dynamic shading of the window to display theuser's message. Accordingly, a vehicle occupant may easily communicateto those outside of the vehicle.

It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilizedherein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may beattributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or otherrepresentation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent thedegree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a statedreference without resulting in a change in the basic function of thesubject matter at issue.

While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein,it should be understood that various other changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimedsubject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not beutilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appendedclaims cover all such changes and modifications that are within thescope of the claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dynamic shading system of a vehicle comprising:one or more occupant sensors configured to output a signal indicative ofa position of each of one or more occupants within the vehicle; a windowconfigured for dynamic shading; and a control unit communicativelycoupled to the one or more occupant sensors and the window, wherein thecontrol unit executes logic to shade areas of the window based on theposition of each of the one or more occupants in order to shade each ofthe one or more occupants in accordance with a shade preference of eachof the one or more occupants.
 2. The dynamic shading system of claim 1further comprising a user input device communicatively coupled to thecontrol unit, wherein each of the one or more occupants may input to thecontrol unit the shade preference associated with each of the one ormore occupants.
 3. The dynamic shading system of claim 1, wherein thecontrol unit executes logic to: monitor the position of each of the oneor more occupants with the one or more occupant sensors; and adjust aposition of a dynamic shading of the window based on a movement of theone or more occupants.
 4. The dynamic shading system of claim 1,comprising one or more light sensors communicatively coupled to thecontrol unit and configured to output a light signal indicative of aposition of a point of light.
 5. The dynamic shading system of claim 4,wherein the control unit executes logic to: monitor the position of thepoint of light with the one or more light sensors; and adjust a positionof a dynamic shading of the window based on a movement of the point oflight.
 6. The dynamic shading system of claim 1, further comprising oneor more light sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit andconfigured to output a sun signal indicative of a position of a sunrelative, wherein the control unit executes logic to: monitor theposition of each of the one or more occupants with the one or moreoccupant sensors; monitor the position of the sun relative to theposition of each of the one or more occupants with the one or more lightsensors; and adjust a position of a dynamic shading of the window basedon a movement the one or more occupants and a movement of the sunrelative the position of each of the one or more occupants.
 7. Thedynamic shading system of claim 1, wherein the shade preference of eachof the one or more occupants includes at least one of a body regionshade preference, a shade opacity preference, and a shade colorpreference.
 8. A dynamic shading system comprising: a window configuredfor dynamic shading; a user input device; and a control unitcommunicatively coupled to the window and the user input device, whereinthe control unit executes logic to adjust the dynamic shading of thewindow to display a message received from the user input device.
 9. Thedynamic shading system of claim 8, wherein a characteristic of themessage is adjustable based on a user input on the user input device.10. The dynamic shading system of claim 9, wherein the characteristicincludes at least one of a shade color and a shade opacity.
 11. Thedynamic shading system of claim 8, wherein: the window is a window of avehicle; the control unit is communicatively coupled to an emergencysystem of the vehicle that is configured to output an emergency outputsignal indicative of an emergency situation; and the control unitexecutes logic to: determine that an emergency situation is occurringbased on the emergency output signal of the emergency system; andautomatically adjust the dynamic shading of the window to display anemergency signal with the dynamic shading of the window, when thecontrol unit has determined that an emergency situation is occurring.12. The dynamic shading system of claim 8, wherein: the window is awindow of a vehicle; the control unit is communicatively coupled to abattery sensor, configured to output a charge level signal indicative ofa charge level of a battery of the vehicle, and the control unitexecutes logic to: determine the charge level of the battery based onthe charge level signal output by the battery sensor; and automaticallyadjust the dynamic shading of the window to display a low battery signalwith the dynamic shading of the window when the control unit determinesthat the charge level signal is less than a predetermined charge level.13. A dynamic shading system of a vehicle comprising: one or moreoccupant sensors configured to output a signal indicative of a positionof each of one or more occupants within the vehicle; a window configuredfor dynamic shading; a user input device; and a control unitcommunicatively coupled to the window, the one or more occupant sensors,and the user input device, wherein the control unit executes logic toshade areas of the window based on at least one of the position of eachof the one or more occupants in order to shade each of the one or moreoccupants in accordance with a shade preference of each of the one ormore occupants and a message received from the user input device. 14.The dynamic shading system of claim 13, wherein the control unitexecutes logic to: monitor the position of each of the one or moreoccupants with the one or more occupant sensors; and adjust a positionof a dynamic shading of the window based on a movement of the one ormore occupants.
 15. The dynamic shading system of claim 13, comprisingone or more light sensors communicatively coupled to the control unitand configured to output a sun signal indicative of a position of apoint of light.
 16. The dynamic shading system of claim 15, wherein thecontrol unit executes logic to: monitor the position of the point oflight with the one or more light sensors; and adjust a position of adynamic shading of the window based on a movement of the point of light.17. The dynamic shading system of claim 13, further comprising one ormore light sensors communicatively coupled to the control unit andconfigured to output a sun signal indicative of a position of a sunrelative to each of the one or more occupants, wherein the control unitexecutes logic to: monitor the position of each of the one or moreoccupants with the one or more occupant sensors; monitor the position ofthe sun relative to each of the one or more occupants with the one ormore light sensors; and adjust a position of a dynamic shading of thewindow based on a movement the one or more occupants and a movement ofthe sun relative to the window.
 18. The dynamic shading system of claim13, wherein the shade preference of each of the one or more occupantsincludes at least one of a body region shade preference, a shade opacitypreference, and a shade color preference.
 19. The dynamic shading systemof claim 13, wherein: the control unit is communicatively coupled to anemergency system of the vehicle that is configured to output anemergency output signal indicative of an emergency situation; and thecontrol unit executes logic to: determine that an emergency situation isoccurring based on the emergency output signal of the emergency system;and automatically adjust the dynamic shading of the window to display anemergency signal with the dynamic shading of the window, when thecontrol unit has determined that an emergency situation is occurring.20. The dynamic shading system of claim 13, wherein: the control unit iscommunicatively coupled to a battery sensor, configured to output acharge level signal indicative of a charge level of a battery of thevehicle, and the control unit executes logic to: determine the chargelevel of the battery based on the charge level signal output by thebattery sensor; and automatically adjust the dynamic shading of thewindow to display a low battery signal with the dynamic shading of thewindow when the control unit determines that the charge level signal isless than a predetermined charge level.